Malaysia Airlines pays boy $44,240

Malaysia Airlines pays boy $44,240

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A nine-year-old boy who was badly scalded after a flight attendant spilled hot coffee on his groin was awarded 110,600 ringgit (US$44,240) yesterday from Malaysia Airlines.

The national carrier was ordered to pay damages to Mohd Rafiuddin Elmin after the court ruled that the stewardess' negligence had caused the boy pain and suffering, Bernama news agency reported from the Sabah state capital of Kota Kinabalu.

Mohd Rafiuddin had claimed he suffered injury to his thighs, testicles, penis and anus and spent 15 days in hospital after the accident on June 17, 1994.

Malaysia Airlines' lawyer Connie Willie in turn said Rafiuddin's burns were minor as they only affected five percent of his body surface. The lawyer also blamed the boy's family's reliance on folk medicine for exacerbating the wounds.

The court ordered the airline and flight attendant to pay the schoolboy 60,000 ringgit for pain and suffering, 30,000 ringgit for injuries, 20,000 ringgit for scars and 600 ringgit for legal fees.